Platform Computing Launches Starter Pack for Private Cloud

Platform computing delivers a low-cost, entry-level solution including software, support and services, for enterprises looking to set up private cloud solutions.

Platform Computing, a
provider of cluster, grid and cloud management software, has announced
a new entry-level offering for enterprises who want to launch private
cloud systems.

Platform Computing, a provider of
cluster, grid and cloud-management software, has announced a new entry-level
offering for enterprises that want to launch private cloud systems.

In an August 24 press release, Platform announced the availability of the
Platform ISF Starter Pack, an out-of-the-box, end-to-end software product and
services offering designed to enable companies to quickly set up a private
cloud. Platform Computing officials say the new ISF Starter Pack provides a low-risk,
low-cost way to evaluate private clouds, allowing architects and IT managers to
get a cloud sandbox environment up and running in less than 30 minutes.
For US$4,995, the Platform ISF Starter Pack includes a one-year Platform ISF
license for 10 sockets, consulting, training and support, Platform officials
said.
"Organizations
have plenty of toolkits to choose from as they evaluate private cloud, but they
require multiple tools that users must string together themselves," said
James Pang, vice president of product management at Platform Computing, in a
statement. "What's more, these toolkits can cost $50,000 or more,
and require 30-plus days of on-site consulting to build and customize an
evaluation environment. We wanted to provide a cheap and easy way for users to
get up and running quickly with a single product. The Platform ISF Starter Pack
is an ideal entry into private cloud computing for organizations that want to
first demonstrate the value of private cloud to their organizations without
making a large upfront time or resource investment."
The
ISF Starter Pack includes software and best-practices advice and help to set up
private cloud. It features a one-year Platform ISF term license for 10 sockets,
including support. The Starter Pack also includes a half-day of orientation
training, a half-day of cloud-building consultation, and integration advice for
Platform ISF with the users' internal tools.
"Although
comfort levels are rising, and barriers to adoption are lowering, customers
remain confused by the myriad solutions that claim to enable private clouds,"
said Dave Bartoletti, senior analyst at the Taneja Group, in a statement. "Often,
private cloud projects are complicated by a surplus of technologies and a lack
of packaged solutions. Those vendors that can integrate proven technologies
into comprehensive, cost-effective solutions-and package them for rapid
deployment, analysis, and evaluation-will be the most attractive to customers
who want to leverage their existing infrastructure to quickly prove the
benefits of private cloud. Offering the Platform ISF Starter Pack is just the
right move for Platform to differentiate itself for these customers."
The
original, full-on Platform
ISF offering launched in 2009 is an end-to-end software product that
provided everything an enterprise would need for private cloud management. The
user does not need to string together point tools from various vendors.
Meanwhile,
Platform ISF manages application workloads across multiple VM technologies
and provisioning tools. It includes self-service, automated provisioning
and chargeback capabilities, and can be deployed within 30 minutes, the company
said. The product supports multiple VM technologies, including ESX,
Xen, KVM and Hyper-V, as well as popular provisioning tools, such as Red Hat
Satellite, IBM xCAT, Symantec Altiris, and
Platform Cluster Manager, Platform said in its press release.

Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.